Bee comb foundation



Jan. 2, 1945. H Q DADANT ETAL 2,366,182

BEE 60MB FOUNDATION Y Filed Jan. so, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 ssl' i,

a MVM/M, 0MM* M7 Jam 2, 1945- H. c. DADANT ETL '2,366,182

BEE 00MB FOUNDATION Filed Jan. 50, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6'.

l PatenteclJan. 2, 1945` M 2,366,1s2'if BEE -coM FoUNDATioN Henry Dadant Vand'l'y A. yGrrout,4

` HaJmltomLIlli` i,

, npplicatimJ-anuaryeo, 1940, serialeNo.316,424f1` screams. (oie-1o) This .invention relates to `improvements inrbee comb foundations, .its particular `purpose being toimprove the comb foundationsheet itself, `so that comb `sheets made inaccordance withfthe .ini/en@f v tion can be marketed independently `of IthecusI `tomary wooden frame so lesto be boughtby Athe upon V.to aiord the reasonable "assurance lof` its' occupancy of the fcentral planeiaofthe frame :in .la perfectlyfilat manner rand-even 'tensionthroughout. i

beekeeper and inserted in such frames asfhge has.

I Infother words, thewax comb sheets are so made that they will withstand handling ,independently of l, a supporting frame during .the processes iof of reinforcing "one orjmore-edges `of vthe sheet and 1 packaging, shipping and distribution, in 'readiness` to 1 loe` installed in comb frames either newly bought for theipurpose or had on hand after the removal of 4a` previously `deposited quantity `of honey comb. i

The prevailingpractice up to the present time` ist` to make `and `.sell wax comb sheets which the beekeeper isrequired to reinforceupon `itting them in'their comb frames.` `Minor eiorts have becnmade at reinforcement in loosely sold waxl comb sheets, and it isthe inefectiveness of` these efforts that is soughtto be overcome herein. An. other dili'culty sought to be` overcome is that `of` the necessity of the beekeeperto purchase frames: having reinforcing wires `embodied therein for the reception of the: previously mentioned loo'sewax comb sheets. l l v l l v .Inan instance such-as the last it is necessary fortthe` beekeeper: `to embed the `wires `of the comb. frame in the Wax sheet, usually `by heatingtthe'` Wires. It can readily be understood `that the exl-` pense and loss of 4time `involved in buying 'rein-i forced frames and then superimposing the heated `forcement. A, 3

Fourth, to bind atleast Oneedge ofl 'a fcomb n foundation sheetA with a stiiening strip l that ,is `folded over Isaid edge' `and clampeddownboth Second,` to provic'le 'a wax combisheetfwhich :can readily `be installedliina comb Trame,` and therein a comb "foundation sheetforthechief purpose at the Sametime providing an "anchorage fort-he ends of Vsuch wires combined in thecomb sl'ieet as will adapt themselvesfto termination at said rrein.`

upon the comb `sheet `and theends of support-ing wires embodied in the 'she`et, said `strip serving both as an anchorage for the sheet and wires individuallyand as `an anchorage ,for `thesheet and wireassemblagein respectto the frame. Fifth, to provide a `combination of wires and anchoring bars respectively"` embodied in the body of the wax .sheetand clamped onto .the edges of,

the sheet over. the :ends of` thewires,. collectively to provide meansjfor .fastening and holding `said `sheet in the central plane of the comb frame,

wires` thereof upon the wax comb sheetsso asutol embed them or byusing a cold spurwhe`e1 for that purpose are factors from which thisindustry" wouldwelcomea` relief. This is true.` from the additional standpoint ofthe hand method oflin stallingthe lwires often resulting in a tioning of thecomb foundation.` l

`'Supporting ,wires` installedin a frame by hand are rarely stretched evenly and securelyand posi-1 tionedin-` the: central planeof the comb frame.`

poor `posi- Qbvieusly .whenaloose `wai; comb sheet is` iml pressed upon such a wire foundation it is sub-1 4d t ject to `becoming loose or slackthus allowing the illustrating another form wherein the' ,wax sheet; Qhas reinforced anchoring `bars on the `two side;

comb to slip, warp, bulge, sagor wave out of. the,`

central plane of thecornbframe;4 With this preamble in mind the objects of the invention 'are asollOW-z First, to provide a wax combsheetwhich is so` constructed as to withstand all necessaryhandling, in packaging', shipmentiand distribution, and will loeready-` :for installation in acomb frame` bim'lirtzuallyanyibcelreeper,` Y i l @Figure f1 isa Verticaltsection also to prevent sagging, warping, bulginglor waviness of the resulting comb; i,

` Other objects and advantages will appear inthe l following specification, referencebeng Imade to'` the additional drawings, inwhich:

`Figurel is a partially sectionaland elevational"` `view of one form oftthe inventiontwherein ythe endsl of` the anchoring` bar `arexextended for an-A chorage in the` slotof the side bar l` VFigure 2 is a sideelevation of a comblirame:` and sheet embodying a modified forml'wherein; 40, the side edges oflthe: sheet are reinforced; with., anchoringbarn i i `Figure Slis` a side elevation of a comb'frame edges and thelbottom edge.` l

Figure 5is a .horizontal section taken on thel sem Figure, 6 is a side elevation'of a comb frame, parts being shown in section, illustrating still` l ,another form of the invention wherein the wax l sheet is reinforced aroundall four edges,

` Figure 7 is a verticalysectiontakenon the line e 5s; l---` of `Figure 6.I i i.

Third,.to\embodyfoneforvmoreanchoring bars l taken l` oni the Figure 8 is a vertical section on a lin'e 8-8 of Figure 3.

It will be understood from a review of the foregoing forms of the invention that the improvement resides mainly in the wax sheet, but that the comb frame has been improved also thereby to coact to better advantage with some of the types of wax sheets. Generally the wax sheet embodies sets ofrlongitudinal and transverse wires. The wax sheets are reinforced on one or more edges, the primary purpose of this reinforcement being that of anchoring the wires ,and thus indirectly strengthening the edges of the wax sheet.

It can also be readily understood that a wax sheet made on the basis of reinforced edges and Wires embeddedv in the wax is not necessarily predicated on the right angular relationship or crossed form of longitudinal and transverse wires. These wires can be embedded in the'wax according to any one of a multitude of designs. Therefore, the particular arrangement of longitudinal and transverse wires is herein intended merely as being illustrative and not a limitation to this special arrangement. Reference is now made to the drawings.

In the figures the comb frame I is made according to a more or less conventional plan. It comprises the top bar 2 from which the side bars 3 depend,l said side bars being spaced in from theends 4 of the top bar 2 so as to convert said ends into projections which /are employed in supporting the comb frame in a beehive body or super. The lower end of each side bar 3 is slotted or notchedy at 5 to contain the ends of a slotted bottom bar 6. This bottom bar is either longitudinallyA grooved or made of two members which are secured in the notch 5 in spaced apart relationship to define the slot 'I. Y 4 The wax sheet isembossed at 9 throughout its entire extent with multi-sided depressions which constitute the beginnings of honey cells. `This is common structure in this art and does not need to be enlarged upon. Said wax sheet is improved by initially embedding a system of wires in it, the resulting sheet being marketed in this reinforoedform'in readiness for emplacement in the comb frame I.

The wires I0 extend ylongitudinally of the sheet 8 and may either besmooth or straight as shown or provided with corrugations, crinkles or the like as in the instance of the transverse wires II. Y' i Preparatory to emplacing the sheet 8 in the frame I said sheet ismanipulated in order to introduce the top of thesheet into a commonly f existing rabbet 29 on the underside of the topv porated reinforcing wires.

posed makes it impracticable to clamp the bar 29 solely upon the edge of the wax.

In other words, if it were undertaken to reinforce any given edge of the wax sheet 8 by clamping a bent metal strip thereto, the intended purpose would be defeated by the prompt breaking away of the strip because of the wax not being strong enough to sustain it under ordinary methods of handling and assemblage. In short, the wax would be weakened, if not torn away from the reinforcing strip, unless great care was exercised in handling, packing for shipment and during assembling in combirames.

But this contingency will not happen because the clamping is done onto the ends of the incor- For example, the an choring bar 29 is clamped ontothe ends of the transverse wires II. Since the clamping is done by an instrument which takes in the full length of the bar 29 it follows that the clamping pressure is greatest at the points where the wire ends occur. Obviously the wax lls in the anchoring bar 29 at places between these points, but there is not sucient pressure against the wax to encourage tearing.

In Figure l the anchoring bar 29 provides an anchorage in 'another sense of the word. Its ends are now extended at 3l so as to hook under the contiguous side bars 3 in the notch or slot 5. The

sheet is manipulated to first position extensions procedure may be reversed by first; driving nails barl 2, the top hooks I'I then being positioned as shown (Fig. 8) A strip 2l is then secured in the rabbet by means of nails 22. The nails aredesirably driven on a pitch and in doing so the'top of the sheet B is forced into the corner of the rabbet 2). This act exercises a pull on the transverse wires II so that the latter are stretched with noticeable tightness. 'It is also desirable and usually necessary to first drive a nail 23 into the bottom bar 6 thus to close a considerable portion of the slot 'I in the central zone of the bottom bar. This insures the retention of the bottom ends of the wires II when the nails v22 are later driven.

In every instance the anchoring bar is closed in upon an edge of the wax sheet 8so that it becomes tightly clamped in place. The fragile nature of the wax of which the sheet 8 is comthrough the slotted bottom bar B and the anchoring bar 29 situated therein. This will secure the bottom edge of the wax sheet 8. The strip 2I is next nailed in place in the rabbet 20 and against the hooks I1 or their equivalents, thereby stretching the transverse wires from bottom to top.

FigureZ will be recognized as the rst variation from Figure 1 in that anchoring bars are used to reinforce the side edges of the sheet 8 instead of a bottom edge. These anchoring bars are denoted 32 (Figs. 2, i and 5), and when they are clamped down upon the edges of the wax sheet the greatest pressure is exerted upon the ends of the longitudinal wires I0 which are thus firmly gripped. The top and bottom extremities of theV tually the procedure would be to emplace the Wax sheets 8 and drive the nails 22, 33 at either the right or left end. 'Then in driving the nails 22,v 33, they can be set at a pitch so as to exercise alongitudinal pull upon the entire sheet. This stretches the wires I0 and iiattens the wax out perfectly. In Figure 3 the wax sheet 8 is bound on three sides, the two side bindings being designated 36,

`31, and the bottom binding 38. The top edge is left vwithout any binding (Fig. 8), but a rm anchorage is secured by virtue of clamping the top hooks I'I into the corner of the Arabbet '20 bymeans of the strip 2| and nails 22. Inasmuch as the Wax sheet has anchoring bars on the three exposed edges it is readily understood that there is a rigid supportfor both the Wax and the wires. When said sheet is secured to the top bar 2` the wax foundation is held as firmly as ever needed. The bottom edge of the sheet ,loosely occupies N the slot T of the bottom bar 6, but if it is deemed l s be driven through i asini theinstance of the nail 23.

desirable a nail may readily `frame including a top bar and a pair of side V contiguous to said `edge and having extensions Figure 6 illustrates a further development of i the aiiixation of anchoring bars to the Wax sheet 8. `I-Iere all fouredges of the sheet are provided with metal or equivalent bindings. The anchoring bars at the top and bottom edges are denoted 39, 40, while those at the side edges are denoted 4|, 42. The longitudinal and transverse wires I0, I I are thus firmly anchored throughout. That is to say, the extremities of the wires ill are anchored in the bars 4|, 42, while the extremities of the Wires are anchored inthe bars39, 40.

seated in said notches for the anchorage of the bottomofthe sheet, and means secured tothe top `bar and at the same time clamping the top edge of the sheet, said means exercising a pull on the wires thus to stretch the wires and hold the anchoring notches. i

This type of comb foundation is the most rigid I of all, but the additional cost which its manufacture involves would b justifiedby the absolute assurance that the ultimate, honey comb will be` adequately supported against any distortion whatsoever. l

It is not so material how the type of wax sheet Y in Figure 6 is emplaced in the frame I.V The conventional mode of attachment involves the rabbet 20 and the nailing strip 2|. This strip should `be jammed over against the top bar 39 in nailing.

The bottom bar 6 may comprise the slotted type,`

or it may simply be grooved at 43 (Fig. 7) to admit the anchoring bar 40, a loose suspension of the wax sheet resulting in either case.

The distinct advantage of longitudinal wires over vertical Wires is that bees, during dry weather or a drougth or whenever there is little or no nectar yielding blossoms `or` honeyiiow, damage comb foundation sheets considerably at times by removing the wax from them and carrying it to combs that are partly or fully drawn out whenever bees are in need of some Wax for comb buildi ing purposes. Itis well Vknown that when per- `forming such damage bees are prone to remove wax along vertical Wires more than they do along longitudinal ones. The reason for this is that the bottom edges of their combs in nature, as in vbee trees, are ordinarily not fastened to anything, Therefore, the bottom of the comb is the last part to be completed and the iirst place along which they gnaw, and when a vertical Wire is found there they begin to gnaw along it. This results in badly riddled combs at times along the vertical wires and upward. l f

Thus it is plain that the longitudinal Wires must be relied upon .tomaintain the integrity of the wax sheetmore so than transverse wires alone because the embodiment of longitudinal wires in the sheet will tend to frustratethe natural instinct of the bees to remove the wax underthe' circumstances recently named.

: We claim: s

1. A honey comb` foundation comprising `a 2. A honey comb foundation comprising` a frame including a pairof ,top and bottom bars,

a wax sheet mounted inthe frame, a set of wires .i

embedded in the sheet and having their ends extending to the side edges of the sheet, anchoring bars fitted upon said side edges in the form of bindings, being clamped hard against the Wire ends to exercise a grip, and means-securing said anchoring bars at their endsv to the top and bottom bars of the frame. i

3. A honey comb foundation comprising a frame including top and bottom bars and a pair of side bars, each of the side bars having a notch, a wax sheet mounted within the frame and having a wire embedded therein, a combined reinforcing and anchoring means clamped rigidly to Wires embedded in the Wax, the ends of the wires extending to the edges of the sheet, and at least one reinforcing U-shaped bar applied to one of the lsheet edges whereat the wire ends terminate, the side Walls of the U-shaped barbeing rigidly pressed towards each other so that the bar will l be clamped upon the Wire ends and the contiguous portions of the Wax sheet'along one edge, means securing the U-shaped bar to one of the frame bars, and means securing the opposite edge of the Wax sheet to an oppositely disposed bar ofthe frame.

5. A honey comb foundation comprising a frame including a pair ofv top vand bottom bars, a Wax sheet mounted in the frame, a set `of wires 4embedded in the sheet and having their ends extending to the edges of the sheet, anchoring bars fitted upon said side edges, and upon one,`

fend edge in the formof bindings, being clamped hard against the wire ends to exercisea grip, and means securing said side anchoring bars `at s lone end and securing the end anchoring' bar to an adjacent frame bar. i

. `HENRY c. DADANT.

ROY A. GROUT.

means tightly in said` 

